Beyond the learners - Refugee Forum, Thomas Wildschutt Senior

Weekends in 2011 have become a hive of activity as the Refugee Forum Adult Literacy Classes at Thomas Wildschutt Senior Primary have embarked on the next phase of development – computer literacy in the Zisukhanyo Schools Project Computer Centre.

Andre, member of the school’s family of volunteers and convener of the Literacy Project, approached Mr Jansen (School Principal) and was immediately given the go-ahead to allow the transfer of skills and expertise.

Andre stated that although the programme initially started with adult refugees in mind, their kids have started to partake in the initiative.

Participants, young and old, have begun with simple, tentative exercises in Microsoft Word and by the end of the current year, other software packages will be introduced and mastered as well.

Thanks to Majdi Ryklief, Thomas Wildschutt Senior School for the article and pictures.

Reviews from the ZSP Schools

Schools have been back for three weeks now. Educators and learners at all of the ZSP Schools are getting into a regular pattern of using their Computer Centre to compliment their numeracy lessons.

We think that it is about time we asked the educators and learners what they think about their numeracy lessons in the Computer Centre:

"Excitement for mathematics is returning for the learners."

"Learners realise they must go home and learn their timestables"

" Gets learners thinking outside of the box"

Learners show "more confidence"

 Buck Road Primary School.


“In the computer centre we test the work we do in our class, it is a lot of fun for we to work on the mathematics sums.”  Epiphane Furaha, 7b

“I enjoy working on the  mathematics speed tests because it is fun and I always try to improve my speed test score.” Chris Mampassi, 6a

“I can't play games in the computer centre, but enjoy the mathematics speed test” Thareeq Yon, 5a

 Thomas Wildschutt Senior School

" Cooking in someone else's kitchen"

ZSP schools are running full timetables in their Computer Centres. The ZSP Team plans lesson activities for use in the Computer Centre that are linked to what the educators are covering in class for that week.

The ZSP Team works very closely with the Metro South Education District (MSED) Curriculum Team to decide on the specific focus for each week and to ensure that all the activities are aligned to the workschedules that are given to each grade. We value their support and experience as we work together to provide the best possible support to the schools. The ZSP Team is in fact " cooking in someone else's (MSED) kitchen" by invitation.

The Western Cape Education Department sets clear curriculum goals for each grade and learning area.The ZSP uses targeted technology interventions to support the schools in order to improve the achievement of their learners.The structured speed tests, mentioned in an earlier post, are an example of this inntervention.

MSED Director and ZSP Donor's representatives at Thomas Wildschutt Senior School

St Mary's Primary School

Sonwabo Primary: Back at work (with a little help from the computers)

Schools start today!

Most of the schools in the Western Cape open their doors to their learners today. The educators were back at school preparing lessons last week.

We are delighted to report that there were NO reported break ins or incidents of vandalism at the ZSP schools over the long summer break. This is partly down to the hard work of the schools and ZSP Team in securing the facilities and ensuring all the necessary precautions were in place.

Lessons will begin in the ZSP Computer Centres this week. We know that the learners (& educators) at all schools are keen to start.

Training for the educators starts this afternoon! Each school has a specific day per week, where it receives a structured training program written and delivered by the ZSP Team.

Seasons greetings

The 2010 academic year ends today as schools close for the long summer break.

The Zisukhanyo Schools Project Team wishes everyone a relaxing, restful

and rejuvenating festive season.

This blog will also be taking a break until early in the New Year.

Concentration

One of the Strategic Objectives of this Project is to improve the numeracy and literacy results in the ZSP schools.

This is a Grade 5 class at Thomas Wildshutt Senior School doing a Numeracy Speed Test (see Speed Test post). It is the concentration of this leaner that is noteworthy, his total focus on getting the best possible score (although he is not alone in his efforts as you can see from the surrounding learners).

One of the aims of ZSP is to allow technology to be an effective tool for educators in their mathematics teaching, the role of the ZSP Curriculum Team is to provide the training and support to allow this to happen.

Donor visits to the ZSP schools

During November the ZSP family of schools received visits from Danny Gallagher, Chairman of Protea Education Development Project and Mark Dobbyn, Human Dignity Foundation.

The schools had the opportunity to showcase how the support of the Zisukhanyo Schools Project has impacted upon their staff and learners.

Five years later....

The computer centre at Intshayelelo Primary School was officially opened in September 2005. This was over five years ago...what is the feedback from the school today?

" It is not a secret that our school has improved in all learning areas in general and

 literacy in particular. The use of the computer room has broadened the knowledge

 of both educators and learners." Mr VS Gantsho, Principal.

" Using the computer room in teaching learners helps me a lot... the learners become more interested to learn than when listening to the educator talking in the classroom" Mngxekeza T.

"It (computer room) provided us with a variety of activities that we were unable to do in class." Mbaba M